Chapter Fourteen

Arielle’s POV  

For the first time since I was dragged into Hell’s Pit, I wasn’t starving. I wasn’t curled up on the cold, damp floor, listening to the distant sounds of screams and violence well I couldn't really escape hearing that but it was muted now. 

Instead, I was lying on an actual bed if was a thin mattress for sure, but compared to the filth I had slept in before, it felt like luxury.  

The food they brought me was warm, and the water wasn’t filled with dust and grime. It was a change—a suspicious one but I welcomed it all the same. 

It didn’t take long to find out why, Valarie was all too eager to tell me anyway. 

Alpha Lorenzo.  

I hadn’t seen him since that day in the council chambers, but now that I knew this was his doing, I didn't know what to feel at all. He had bargained for me, fought for me in whatever way he could and I hated the fact that all it made me feel, wasn’t relief.  

It was confusion and fear. 

Why?  

Why did the alpha of the South, a man as powerful as Lorenzo, care about a prisoner like me?  

Why was he risking anything at all?  

I didn’t have an answer and that terrified me.  

Days had passed, and I hadn’t seen him it had me feeling sad sometimes which was stupid and reckless. I was going to fight soon, it didn't matter when but it was going to happen. 

Every time my door opened, my stomach twisted in nervous anticipation, but it was always a guard– someone bringing food or watching over me in silence. I told myself it was better this way looking for him was not worth it and it didn’t matter why he was helping me, only that he was.  

I didn’t need to see him because if I did I had a feeling that it wouldn't end well for me. 

It was another evening, normal like all the others my door opened, and the object of all my thoughts walked in. 

Lorenzo.

I had thought I remembered what he looked like—what he felt like go be in the same room with him even if it was only for a moment. 

But memory was nothing compared to reality.  

Dark eyes, sharper than a wolf’s, pinned me in place as his scent flooded the small space, something deep and earthy, it filled my nostrils,and something hot filled my stomach. 

A slow, creeping heat curled through my stomach, my pulse quickened, my breath hitching.  

And for the first time, I felt it.  

The pull.  

It was like an ache or a sore tooth, a little painful but the draw was inescapable. 

It was a bond. 

The bond.  

Why hadn’t I felt it before? Was it because I had been too broken to recognize it?  

Or had I felt it and ignored it. 

I didn’t know.  

All I knew was that now—now—it was undeniably there and it was not reducing in intensity at all. 

The moment his eyes darkened, I knew he felt it too.  

She let a sharp inhale, a flicker of something dangerous in his gaze, he looked at me like I was prey. 

And then he moved.  

One second, he was standing near the door and the next, he was there, in front of me, so close I could feel his breath on my skin.  

His scent surrounding me, all at once it was intoxicating, almost suffocating and I should have been afraid.  

But I wasn’t.  

I was burning, his hand came up, fingers brushing over my cheek, and I shuddered my eyes going closed, when I opened them again his eyes flickered gold for a second, his wolf pushing forward.  

I didn’t think, didn’t question it, I just leaned in stopping short of his lips.

And then his lips were on mine.  

The kiss was like a roaring flame, raw, hungry and all consuming. 

Lorenzo wasn’t gentle.  

He kissed me like he wanted to burrow into my skin, like he had been holding back for too long and had finally given in.  

And I kissed him back with just the same heat because I had never wanted anything more in my entire life. His hands gripped my waist, pulling me closer, and I melted against him, pressing into his warmth.  

A low growl rumbled in his chest, sending shivers down my spine. I gasped as his lips left mine, trailing fire down my neck.  

I didn’t realize what I was doing, it felt like all my limbs had a mind of their own because soon my fingers tangled in his hair, tugging him closer.  

And then he froze.  

One second, I was burning.  

The next, he was gone.  

Lorenzo pulled away so fast I almost stumbled forward. His breathing was ragged, his hands clenched into fists at his sides.  

“Stop,” he said, his voice rough, strained.  

" We need to stop" he mumbled, I stared at him, dazed.  

Confused.  

He wasn’t looking at me.  

His jaw was tight, his entire body tense like he was restraining himself from something—from coming at me.  

“Why?” I whispered, my heart hammering in my chest.  

His gaze flickered to mine.  

And what I saw there made my breath catch.  

Hunger. 

And something else—something deeper.  

“You don’t understand,” he said, his voice quieter now, almost regretful.  

“Then explain it to me,” I said, swallowing hard.  

He exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair before finally turning to look me in the eye.  

“You’re my mate.” he muttered and my world stopped.  

I blinked, shaking my head as I glance d around it felt like I was underwater but I wasn't 

“No,” I whispered, taking a step back.  

This couldn’t be real, it couldn’t be happening.  

Lorenzo was an alpha.  

One of the most powerful in the world and me … I was nothing.  

His mate? That was impossible.  

And yet…  

My body knew the truth.  

The way it reacted to him ,the way it still craved to be with him like an ache that I knew was very bad for me

“I don’t—” I swallowed, shaking my head again. 

“How is this possible?”  

Lorenzo exhaled slowly. 

"I don’t know.”  

He ran a hand down his face, looking as frustrated as I felt.  

" Is that why you came back to help me " I stuttered and he nodded swallowing deeply. 

“I wasn’t expecting this either,” he admitted. 

“But it’s real.”  

I opened my mouth, but no words came out because what could I say?  

That I didn’t want this?  

That I hadn’t been waiting my entire life for someone to save me? Those would have been lies, because the truth was, some part of me—some stupid, naive part of me—wanted this.  

Wanted him. A knight in shining armour so this terrified me more than anything.  

I shook my head.

 “This doesn’t change anything.” Lorenzo’s jaw tightened

. “It changes everything.”  

" What exactly does it change" I asked wrapping my arms around myself, stepping back.  

" I’m still a prisoner. I still have to fight.”  

Lorenzo’s gaze darkened. 

“Not if I can help it.” I scoffed.

 “And how exactly do you plan to do that?”